1492 Tapas Bar: User Reviews

Not Recommended
By RyanC from Wicker Park, September 28, 2009

Overall rating:

I was rather disappointed with my experience there. The food was quite mediocre. The lamb chops were not very good. The the bacon on the bacon-wrapped dates wasn't sufficiently cooked and was rubbery and chewy. The other dishes didn't fare too much better. The service was not up to snuff, either. Our waitress was unable to talk cogently about the wine list. I was obviously on a date, and we kept on being interrupted at odd moments by the wait staff. To make matters worse, as soon as we stopped ordering food (we still had drinks), without even asking they came by and dropped off the check. Closer to closing on they turned the music up to an obnoxiously loud level, apparently in order to drive us out of the place, despite the fact that they had not come out to say that they were closing and that it was still only 10:00 PM. You can get far better food and service at other tapas bars in the city.

Don't eat there - Worst dining experience in 5 years!
By chpcotton from lincoln park, July 10, 2009

Overall rating:

Service was inexistent, had to go 'hunting' for a waiter (we were seated outside) - Waited for our 1 dish for about 30 minutes then got the wrong dish - Requested bread but were told they were out - Talked to the manager who gave us a well rehearsed apology (probably had to use it quite a lot). Did I mention the $22 pitcher of Sangria? Of course you would not know the price until you get the bill because their liquor prices are not posted anywhere....
The little food we did taste was good but can't make up for the atrocious service and overall bad experience.
Don't waste your money at this place!

Great tapas and paella
By Moxie78 from Chicago, January 7, 2009

Overall rating:

My husband, my sister-in-law, a friend, and I dined at 1492 last night. Our dining experience was great. The place was pretty crowded for a January tuesday night, probably due to the 1/2 price wine special. We were told that there was a 15 minutes wait for a table so we decided to sit at the bar area. We ordered several tapas ranging from cured ham to alioli potatoes to chicken croquettes to beef skewers to garlic shrimp. I mean we had a bit of everything -including Paella. We found the food to be excellent: tasty, well cooked, fresh. We had wine and sangria. The red sangria was pretty good, I mean it was strong enough to make me smile after two glasses but fruity enough to keep me drinking all through our meal with no complains. White sangria was watery though. This is why I am giving 4 stars instead of 5. Service was good. Our waiter was kind, attentive and helpful. We loved the ambiance. We will come back.

My first visit and I loved it
By MarySch from Lincolnwood, December 9, 2008

Overall rating:

I highly recommend this restaurant. We just had our office Holiday party at 1492 last friday (Dec. 5th), and all the event ran smoothly from A to Z. Everybody had a great time.
Mr. boss rented a floor for us –company staff, 40 people. We had appetizers plus a 6 course pre-fix dinner which was a great choice. I mean we had plenty of food and everything was delicious. First we had around 1 hour or so of some passed hors d’oeuvre –dates wrapped in bacon, mini meatballs, and goat cheese croquettes. This was a nice touch since it gave folks time to mingle, drink, and chat a bit before sitting at the table for dinner. We also had a nice small bar set at the room for us with our own bartender -a really nice guy who mixed very nice drinks for us. To make a long story short, drink needs were taken care promptly and beautifully. For dinner time we had “cream of asparagus” as 1st course. Then we had 2 salads: veggies, and pasta. The pasta option was flavorful and yummy. (I don’t know if they carry this item on their regular menu, but if they do don’t miss it.) 3rd Course was smoked salmon, marinated grilled veggies, Spanish potato omelet, and the cured ham. Then we had a bunch of hot tapas (4th course). I don’t remember then all, but I do remember the lamb chops, the stuffed mushrooms, and some really good spicy shrimp. 5th course was “Paella” (rice) –we had two options to choose from: the seafood one, and the spicy chicken and Spanish sausages, I picked the spicy one –soo good. For dessert we had 2 options to choose from too, the “soft egg custard” and a cake tiramisu style with some alcohol on it which I don’t remember the exact name but it was good! Drinks? Boy, you name it! We had Sangria, red and white wine, specialty drinks, beer, etc. I would like to add that the staff was very attentive and the service was impeccable. This was my first visit to 1492 Tapas, and I loved it. I will come back.

This place is going downhill
By Chicagoan4Life from South Loop, November 22, 2008

Overall rating:

I have been to this place 3 times and the last time (Friday, November 14th) it was so bad I couldn't believe it was the same place. It has really gone downhill.

The meatballs were hard and very overcooked. The patatas bravas were undercooked and the tomatos and goat chese came with chunky vegatables (cellary, etc.) and took about an hour to arrive. The only good tapas were the bacon wrapped dates.

It was so bad I'm not sure if I will give it another chance.

Not a good experience

Horrible
By cyril from San francisco, November 17, 2008

Overall rating:

I went there with my coworkers during a conference trip and we were totally disappointed by this FAKE Spanish restaurant.
First, we arrived around 9.30pm; we asked them if it was OK to eat at this hour. The waitress said Ok but after receiving the entree (2minutes after), they asked us to pay without asking if we wanted desserts or coffee. We were in middle of our dinner and they kicked us out.
Secondly, the food was awful. Some of tapas were really terrible and the paella was ridiculous. And they call themselves Spanish restaurant. I swear that it is better to go to Chevy’s or Mc Donalds.

you can't go wrong
By Danielle from downtown, November 14, 2008

Overall rating:

Ok this is my third attempt to write this review, metromix has kicked me out twice I hope this one will work. Here I go. I love Spanish food -meaning tapas. So in my frequent dining out I try to include a tapas place at least 2-3 times per month. As you can imagine I have been to tons of Spanish restaurants. Some of them are really good, some are really bad. Of course I have compiled a "go back for more" and "Don't ever go back there" list. Well 1492 ranks top notch in my "go back for more" list. What I love about this spot: The venue is cozy and has a warm atmosphere. The staff have always been superb. I love their wine list - they only carry wines that rank high on wine connoisseurs magazines. I love their food and bar specials! I try to never miss the 1/2 price bottle of wine Tuesday special. The Tapas!!! yum-yum-yummy! They have a HUGE tapas menu with lots of choices. My favorites are: chicken croquettes -I think theirs are the BEST in town. ALL garlic dishes. The octopus -you can't go wrong with this one. I absolutely love their spicy potatoes -they taste pretty much like the ones I had in "Taverna De La Daniela" in Madrid-Spain. The "Carne a la Bruza" -a mix of beef, chicken, and spanish sausages with potatoes in a tasty sauce! Please try the potato omelet -This is a traditional spanish dish and theirs is -no doubt, the best in town. I highly recommend the goat cheese croquettes -they come over a toasted bread with some kind of balsamic-honey "to die for" sauce. OK I could go and go naming dishes here. Bottom line: This a place worth trying - you won't regret it. If you plan to go this coming Tuesday I'll be there, if I'm lucky enough you'll find me in my favorite table- the little corner by the window at the bar. 1492 I love you!

CONSISTENLY GREAT
By Elleine from Gold Coast, July 24, 2008

Overall rating:

I have been going to 1492 for almost 4 years now and they still are one of my favorites. While other restaurants have come and gone, this one still has great food, friendly waiters and a nice atmosphere. I wish more places in Chicago were as solid as this place is. Pricey?, I've been to Emilio's, ba ba reh ba, Sangria, Ole lounge, Arco, Bravo, Barcelona, you name it, and each one of this restaurants are in the same rate in regards to prices, or even higher, while none of then are located in such a good neigborhood or had a really gorgeous location as 1492. Obviously if you are a Cafe Iberico kind, you'll find it expensive, but you'll also find expensive every single good restaurant in this city but mc donalds.

Not willing to follow the set plan
By gd from edgewater, July 23, 2008

Overall rating:

This restaurant is not a good place to visit if you are in a group and do not drink alcohol. They require you to be a part of the group rate and if you are not willing to pay the rate, they will separate your group as a punishment for not following their policy and put your separated group members on different floors. The menu was not as extensive as other tapas restaurants and the hostess was rude.

Terrible Experience, Extremely Rude Hostess, and Very Slow Bartender
By Lisa from Lincoln Park, June 17, 2008

Overall rating:

We went to 1492 to celebrate my 25th birthday. Upon arriving at the restaurant we were told that our table was not ready, that we could have a seat at the bar and that our table would be available in approximatly 10 minuets. We sat at the bar for 30 minuets before the bartender was able to serve all 6 of us (we were the only 6 people at the bar). After 35 minuets of waiting I approached the hostess to ask about our table and she told me that the table was not ready because our reservation was for less people than were in our party. I reminded her that when I first approached the host stand that she confirmed our party number which was the same number our reservation was for. After another 15 minuets she told us that our table had been given away as we were late. At this point we paid for our drinks and walked across the street to Jake Melnicks where we had great food, a fun time, and very attentive bartenders and wait staff. I would not ever recommend 1492 after that experience and was shocked at the behavior of the employees. I have never encountered such poor customer service and general disinterest in customers.